“The Art of Scent 1889-2012,” the first exhibition organized by the Department of Olfactory Art at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, opened to the public on November 20. According to the press release, this exhibition, curated by Chandler Burr, “examines major stylistic developments in the evolution and design of fragrance, and provides unprecedented insight into the creative visions and intricate processes of the artists responsible for crafting the featured works.” I’ve attended the exhibition twice over the past few days, and my reactions are mixed and complicated; I’ll try to summarize them here, along with a few photos I’ve taken.

“The Art of Scent” is installed in the Museum’s fourth-floor galleries, in a spare, neutral space created by the design firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The main gallery’s matte white walls are punctuated by twelve curved recesses. From a distance, these niches resemble high-concept urinals or drinking fountains; upon closer inspection, they also suggest certain anatomical forms. Each recess houses a “scent machine” that releases a fine stream of fragranced air when its motion sensor is triggered. The accompanying “labels” are projections that fade in and out of view at timed intervals…